‘Beetlejuice’ Cocktail Scares up Controversy at AMC Theatres Across the Country

Three and half decades after Tim Burton's original "Beetlejuice" cemented itself as a cult classic, the film's sequel has roared up over $250 million at the international box office. AMC Theatres' attempt to capitalize on the zeitgeist, however, has left more than a few moviegoers scratching their heads. AMC has rolled out a cocktail dubbed the Sandworm Slayer at locations across the country that pays homage to the black-and-white beasts of the film's spirit world. Inside the eerily blue drink, you'll find vodka mixed with black raspberry juice, piled on with a smattering of sour candy worms. It's the kind of blisteringly sweet concoction you might mix up at home after raiding your pantry on Halloween. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The real issue, according to upset fans, is that the drink costs over double the price of a standard movie ticket. Users have taken to social media claiming that the Sandworm Slayer clocks in at $31 in Illinois and California. Others have chimed in that the drink — sold across all markets inside a generic plastic cup — cost them $28. An X post with over 3,000 comments quickly became the epicenter for jabs at the expensive cocktail. Several expressed concerns over the drink's "Blue Gatorade" color while others wondered out loud why it didn't come with a collectible glass. One user remarked; "If you drink three of them, Beetlejuice appears and repossesses your car." Within days of the viral backlash, AMC Theatres issued a public response. Barry Brakeville, the movie chain's director of corporate communication, told FOX News that reports were being blown out of proportion. Referencing the $31 cocktail spotted in Illinois, Brakeville said:

"At 92% of all AMC MacGuffins locations, the 24oz drink price ranged from $15.99 plus tax to $21 plus tax. Please note, this price was in place only at our high-volume locations in Illinois, which represents just 8% of AMC MacGuffins locations."

AMC is the world's largest movie theater chain, reporting a revenue of $4.81 billion in 2023. Over the past couple of decades, the company has begun opening MacGuffins bars at participating locations where fans can pick up drinks themed after current releases. Boozy inventions have slid across the counter at a non-stop pace. Moviegoers have been treated to a bright pink Cool Mom cocktail for "Mean Girls," a blood-red The Pennywise for "IT" and a neon-green Silent Scream for "Alien Romulus" alongside countless others. Place these alongside a growing roster of elaborate popcorn buckets and you get an idea of how AMC has managed to bounce back from its COVID slump. [newsletter-promo]